1990 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project Class.

Here we are!  Again!!

If you have been following our Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project, you know we have asked the question: What if the PFHOF had begun in January 1946?

After soliciting and obtaining a passionate group of football fans and historians, we sent out a ballot for a Preliminary Vote, in which each voter selected 25 names as their semi-finalists and five names for the Senior Pool. We then asked the group to vote for their 15 Finalists in the Modern Era and 3 in the Senior Category. The final stage was to vote for their five Modern Era inductee and one Senior inductee.

This is the result of the 45th official class. 

Below are the final results of this project based on 31 votes.

Remember that we have reverted back to the top five candidates entering the Hall in the Modern Era

This is for the “Modern Era”

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1990:

This is for the “Senior Era”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1990.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1990.

About the 1990 Inductees:

Jack Lambert, LB, PIT 1974-84: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

The Steelers had already put together a powerful defensive corps before they used their Second Round Pick in 1974 to take Jack Lambert, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year two years before.

Lambert became the Steelers’ starting Middle Linebacker early in his rookie season, and he was so impressive that he was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year.  Lambert was arguably the final piece of the puzzle to create the Steelers dynasty, as Lambert, Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, and Franco Harris would win the Super Bowl that year.  As we know, that would be the first of four Super Bowls of the decade, and Lambert was at the heart of all of them. 

Lambert would become known as one of the hardest and most feared hitters in the National Football League.  Lambert won the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1976, and with all due respect to Greene, Lambert was now the top dog of the Steel Curtain.  The Linebacker was a perennial Pro Bowl Selection from 1975 to 1983, and in addition to his 1976 First Team All-Pro, he had five more from 1979 to 1983.

Had Lambert not suffered from severe turf toe in 1984 (causing him to retire that year), it is conceivable he could have continued to pile on accolades.  Lambert left the game with a sick rate of 136 Approximate Value to 146 Games, one of the best ratios of its kind at his position.

Jack Youngblood, DE, RAM 1971-84: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

Jack Youngblood came from the University of Florida, and the 1st Round Pick would be asked to fill the shoes of possibly the most iconic defensive force in Rams history, Deacon Jones.  Considering the pressure he had to feel that he was under, it is more than safe to say that he did one hell of a job!

In his third season in the NFL (1973), Youngblood was named to his first of seven consecutive Pro Bowls, five of which earned him First Team All-Pro honors.  Although the Quarterback Sack was not an official statistic when he played, Youngblood is believed to have recorded 151.5 sacks over his career. 

In a tough sport, Youngblood was one of the toughest and most durable players, missing only one game in his 14 seasons, and is best remembered by Rams fans for playing with a broken fibula in both the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl XIV against the Steelers.  Although the Rams lost, the legend of Jack Youngblood grew to even greater heights in those two games.

Ken Houston, DB, HOU 1967-72 & WAS 1973-80.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 5th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

From Prairie View A&M, Ken Houston was taken way back in the 9^th Round of the 1967 Draft, and it could have been the biggest steal of that year's draft.  Ironically, the Oilers would make the worst trade in franchise history when they sent him to Washington years later.

The Safety was a starter as a rookie, starting nine of his 14 Games, and he made the Pro Bowl the following year and again over the next four seasons.  Houston was easily one of the top Safeties in the AFL/AFC when he competed as an Oiler, and he picked off 25 passes, returning nine for Touchdowns.  

The Oilers had a superstar in their defensive back corps, but they made a tactical error; as though they were struggling, they traded him to Washington for five players.  None of the players that Houston acquired would be decent

Houston continued his streak of Pro Bowls, adding six more to have a twelve-year streak.  Unlike while wearing the oil derrick, Houston was a First Team All-Pro in two of his seasons (1975 & 1978), and he had 24 Interceptions as a Redskin.  Houston was also regarded as one of the game’s most punishing tacklers, and he was one of the fastest players on the field.  He retired after the 1980 season, the year after his run of consecutive Pro Bowls ended.

Bob Hayes, SE-WR, DAL 1965-74 & SFO 1975.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 10th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

A two-sport athlete at Florida A&M, “Bullet” Bob Hayes starred in the 1964 Olympics, winning two Gold Medals (100m and 4x100m relay).  The Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the 7th Round, but he was not yet a refined football player, and it was widely assumed he would be a work in progress.  It did not take long to make it work!

Hayes’ explosive speed caused havoc for defenses and forced opponents to adopt zone schemes and bump-and-run to limit his advantage.  He led the NFL in Touchdown Receptions in his first two years, and later propelled the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl.

He compiled 7,414 Rushing Yards with 71 TDs, and is arguably the reason why General Managers look at 40-yard times! 

Franco Harris, RB, PIT 1972-83 & SEA 1984.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

With all due respect to the many great Running Backs that the Pittsburgh Steelers had, they are all in line behind Franco Harris, who is still the team’s all-time leading rusher.

Harris debuted in the professional ranks in 1972 for the Steelers, a team he didn’t have to travel far from, as he was a star at Penn State.  The Running Back won the Offensive Rookie of the Year, going to the Pro Bowl and rushing for 1,055 Yards and 10 Touchdowns.  This was the year Harris benefited from the "Immaculate Reception," a still-debated play in which the Steelers beat the Raiders in the playoffs.  Pittsburgh didn't win it all that year, but they had a Running Back in tow who could help them.

Harris was one of the best Running Backs of the decade, going to the Pro Bowl every season from 1972 to 1980.  Harris was a First Team All-Pro in 1977 (1,162 Rushing Yards and 11 TDs), but he arguably was better the season before with a league-leading 14 TDs and 1,128 Rushing Yards.  Harris helped propel the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles, earning MVP honors in the first.  Over 19 Playoff Games, Harris had 2,060 Yards From Scrimmage with 17 Touchdowns, an incredible number over intense situations.

Harris was with the Steelers until 1983, playing one final year in Seattle before retiring.  Overall, Harris would accumulate 14,234 Yards From Scrimmage with an even 100 Touchdowns. 

Gene Lipscomb, DT, RAM 1953-55, BAL 1956-60 & PIT 1961-62.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 3rd Senior Ballot.  Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Gene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb enlisted in the military and played football at USMC Camp Pendleton, so if you think the teams of the NFL lightly recruited him, you would be right!

The 300-pound Lipscomb would, however, sign with the Los Angeles Rams in 1952 and would win the starting Right Defensive Tackle job in 1953, but went on to greater success when he was traded to the Baltimore Colts.  "Big Daddy" would help anchor the Colts to the 1958 and 1959 NFL Championships, and not so coincidentally, he was named a First Team All-Pro for his efforts.  Lipscomb went to Pittsburgh in 1961 and went to his third Pro Bowl in 1962, but that would be his final year in Pro Football, as sadly, his career ended when he died of a heroin overdose in May of 1963. 

Don Coryell, Coach, STL 1973-77 & SDG 1978-86.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 2nd Coach/Contributor Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

Coryell was dubbed “Air Coryell” for placing a premium on the passing game and for creating a unique rhythm, forcing defenses to cover all parts of the field.  Tight Ends, Running Backs would go in motion, Receivers had no set start point, and the ball would be going to the target before the receiver would get there.  Coryell made deep routes a major part of his offense and changed how Tight Ends were played, making them a bigger part of the offensive target mix.  All of this is commonplace today, but it wasn’t happening before Coryell literally changed the way the game was played.

He would begin this revolution with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he would win two consecutive division titles, but it was in San Diego that he had the Quarterback he wanted (Dan Fouts), where he was really able to bring his vision to light.  His Chargers won the division three times and led the National Football League in passing for six consecutive seasons, a record that still stands today.

Coryell took his teams to the playoffs often, though he never made it to the Super Bowl; his offensive mindset changed the game.   That is a Hall of Fame worthy!

For us, this is as big as the Super Bowl

Tonight, at the NFL Honors, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the nine new members of the Canton based institution.

The Class of 2023 is:

Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle, Cleveland Browns 2007-17:  Thomas was expected to be a first ballot inductee, and that is what transpired for the former Outland Trophy winner.  The runner-up for the 2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Thomas played a record-breaking 10,363 Snaps and allowed only 30 Sacks.  Charting new territory as the first Offensive Lineman to make the Pro Bowl in his first ten years, Thomas was a six-time First Team All-Pro and 2010’s All-Decade player.  

Darrelle Revis, Cornerback, New York Jets 2007-12 & 2015-16, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2013, New England Patriots 2014, Kansas City Chiefs 2017:  Along with Joe Thomas, Revis is a first ballot inductee, and the Super Bowl Champion with the Pats went to seven Pro Bowls with four First Team All-Pros and was a 2010s All-Decade player.  The proprietor of Revis Island had 29 Interceptions and was second in 2009 Defensive Player of the Year voting.

DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys 2005-13, Denver Broncos 2014-16:  Many expected Ware to enter on year one, but here he is on his second go.  Amassing 138.5 Sacks and twice leading the league, the Linebacker was a nine-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro and a Super Bowl Champion late in his career with the Broncos.

Zach Thomas, Linebacker, Miami Dolphins 1995-2007, Dallas Cowboys 2008:  Thomas was a Finalist the last four years, and is now a Hall of Famer on his tenth year on the ballot.  The Linebacker had eleven years where he broke at least 100 Tackles, and he was a five-time First Team All-Pro as well as a seven-time Pro Bowler.

Ronde Barber, Cornerback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1997-2012:  With all due respect to Barber, this was a slight surprise, as his selection gave us three Corners (including Revis and Riley) in the 2023 Class.  A Super Bowl Champion, Barber is the only player in history with at least 45 Interceptions and 25 Sacks.  A 2000’s All-Decade Selection, Barber went to five Pro Bowls.

Chuck Howley, Linebacker, Chicago Bears 1958-59, Dallas Cowboys 1961-73:  This was a long time coming for Howley, who has been eligible for 45 years, and had never been a Finalist.  The first, and only player to win the Super Bowl MVP on a losing team, Howley got the Super Bowl Ring later, and also had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros on his docket.

Ken Riley, Cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals 1969-83:  Riley was never a Finalist before this year, and the career Bengal was used to being snubbed, having only one First Team All-Pro despite 65 career Interceptions.  This gives the Bengals their second Hall of Famer, behind Offensive Lineman, Anthony Munoz.

Joe Klecko, Defensive Tackle, New York Jets, 1977-87, Indianapolis Colts 1988.  Klecko enters the Hall of Fame after 30 years of eligibility and now the “New York Sack Exchange” has a Hall of Fame inductee.  He was the second player (after Frank Gifford) to earn Pro Bowl honors at three different positions and he was named by UPI as their Defensive Player of the Year in 1981.

Don Coryell, Head Coach, St. Louis Cardinals 1973-77, San Diego Chargers 1978-86:  Coyell was one of the most influential minds in football, revolutionizing the passing game with his “Air Coryell” offense.  A Finalist six previous times, Coryell finally receives his due, albeit 12 years after his death.

As per Clark Judge, the first five Finalists cut were Devin Hester, Willie Anderson, Darren Woodson, Dwight Freeney and Patrick Willis.  Hester, is a bit of a surprise, as he made it to the final ten last year.  

The three Wide Receivers on the ballot, Andre Johnson, Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne made it to the top ten, but none advanced, meaning that the logjam at Wide Receiver remains clogged.  Jared Allen, who has been a Finalist every year since eligible, also made it to the final cut.  The biggest disappointment was for Albert Lewis, who had to wait until his final year of modern eligibility to make it as a Finalist (or even a Semi-Finalist) was also in the final ten and now is in the very deep Seniors pool.

We will be revising our Notinhalloffame.com list next month, where we will remove those inducted, add those now eligible, and alter the list based on your votes and comments.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced today that Don Coryell has advanced as the 2023 Coach/Contributor Finalist.

Coryell is one of the most innovative minds in the history of Pro Football, having developed the Air Coryell” offense which is the prototype for today’s modern offense.  A Finalist six times before, Coryell’s creativity has never been in question, but it did not yield a Title, which is likely the reason that he has not been enshrined yet, but that day seems to be coming.  While this is not a lock for Coryell to get in, patterns indicate that this is his time.

The other Finalists who Coryell beat out were:

Roone Arledge:  Arledge was a powerful television industry executive and producer whose creativity, leadership and technical innovations revolutionized the presentation of both news and sports.  He was the brainchild behind Monday Night Football, and has never been a Finalist.

Mike Holmgren: The Head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992-98 and the Seattle Seahawks from 1999-2008, Holmgren was a Finalist in 2020.

Frank “Bucko” Kilroy:  Kilroy worked in player personnel and scouting for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. He was the Patriots’ general manager from 1979 to 1982 and vice president from 1983 to 1993.  An outstanding player in his own right, Kilroy has a Finalist in 2020.

Robert Kraft: Kraft is the current Owner, Chairman and CEO of the New England Patriots since 1994. His teams have won six Super Bowls.  Kraft has never been a Finalist.

Art Modell:  Modell was the Owner of the Cleveland Browns from 1961-1995 and Baltimore Ravens from 1996-2011.  He has been a Finalist twice.

Buddy Parker: Parker was the Head Coach of the Chicago Cardinals (1949), Detroit Lions (1951-56) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (1957-1964), and a Finalist in 2020.

Dan Reeves:  Reeves was the Head Coach of the Denver Broncos (1981-1992), New York Giants (1993-96) and the Atlanta Falcons (1997-2003), and was a Finalist in 2020.

Art Rooney Jr.:  Employed with the Steelers since 1961, from 1964 through 1986, worked in the Steelers’ Scouting Department, Rooney is currently a Steelers Vice President and member of the Board of Directors.  He has never been a Finalist.

Mike Shanahan:  Shanahan was the Head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders (1988-89), Denver Broncos (1995-2008) and the Washington Redskins (2010-13).  He has never been a Finalist.

Clark Shaughnessy:  The former Head coach of the Los Angeles Rams from 1948-49 and longtime assistant coach for the Washington Redskins from 1944-47 and Chicago Bears from 1951-1962.  He was a three-time Finalist.

John Wooten:  A former nine-year Guard, Wooten was one of the first African-American executives in the NFL, working for the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens.

We here at Notinhalloffame would like to congratulate the late Don Coryell, for making it to this stage.